Gauging mechanism



Dec. 2, 1930. 2. P. CANDEE GAUGING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Zenas P anda;

INVENTOR ATO D 1930- 2. P. CANDEE 1,783,404

GAUGING MECHANIM FiledApril e, 1928 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Z eras P Cazzdee,

INVENTOR H... a m

I. P. CANDEE.

Dec. 2, 1930.

GAUGING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z 612 as P 6'01: dee,

IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE zENAs r. OANDEE, or WATEBBUBY, CONNECTICUT, nssIeNoR To THE WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE coivrri NY, CT'WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A

- CORPQRATION OF CZ!)NNEC'IIIICTIVI GA'UGING MECHANISM Application filed. April 6,

My invention relates to new anduseful improvements in gauging mechanisms and particularly to: mechanism for gauging or inspecting articles, particularly shells for cartridges or the like, but is not limited, however, to such use.

It is the object of this invention, among other things, to provide mechanism for automatically gauging or inspecting an article with extreme accuracy, and to automatically eject such of the articles as have failed to meet the gauging test, preferably so that they are segregated into groups, one for-each gauging test. I

This improved gauging mechanism may be used for the same general purpose as the mechanism disclosed in Letters Patents of the United States, No. 1,602,334, issued Qctober 6, 1926, for improvements in loading machines, and No. 1,652,298, issued December 13, 1927, for improvements in gauging machines.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan'view of a machine having my improved gauging mechanism forming part thereof;

'Figure 2 is an'enlarg-ed sectional view thereof, taken generally upon line 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view thereof, taken generally upon. lines 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in the preceding figure; and 7 Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the discharge mechanism, taken generally upon line 5 5 of Figure 1.

In the operation of thisimachine the articles are guided from a dial. or other mechanism,

and conducted by any convenient mechanism to a plurality of stations where the article is automatically gauged. If these successive gaugings are within the allowable tolerances, the articles are discharged from the machine into a conveniently arranged receptacle. 1 v

The machine is so designed and constructed 1928. Serial No. 267,989.

that there is no tendency for any of the parts to spring and thus tend to inaccuracy of the gauging. If any article fails to meet any gauging test within the allowable tolerances, means are set inmot-ion by the gauging mechanism that discharges such article after the gauging test is completed. All articles that have failed to meet. the gauging test at any onestation are discharged at the same point. Hence the articles are assembled in diii'erent places determined by their defective char acter as disclosed by, such tests and are not assembled in a single group as has been the general practice heretofore, and determination of the defects therein ascertained by manual means; i

In the formwhich I have chosen to illustrate my invention, 10 indicates the bed plate that. is supported upon standards 11 and 12 that may in turn be supported upon a base member 13. Fixed on this bed is a table 14: and associated therewith is a guide bar 15 and one or more bars 16 and 17, upon which the cartridges roll to and between the several inspection stations.

Fixed to the table 14 are a plurality of journal blocks 18 and hinged to each block is a rock arm 19 carrying a holder 20 that is movable in a substantially vertical plane toward and away'from the article to be gauged, illustrated herein as a Cartridge, this movement beingiderived through a rock arm 21 actuated by means not shown. The articles are moved over the guide plate 22 and are carried to the several gaugingstations by carrier bars 23, which constitute no partof my present invention. These bars are so arranged an d operated that whenthe holder 20-moves upwardly and away from the article the bars move downwardly andengage the articles, one article in each of several notches in their lower edges, then move substantially parallel with the topof the table 14: and the articles are moved to the next station. H lVhen in register therewith, theholder moves downwardly and engagesand holds the articles in positionifor thegauging operation and the carrier bars move to their former positionlfor the next feed movement.

Movable in. the frame2 l upon opposite sides of the machine are the slides and 2b, the former deriving its movement through linlis 31 from the cam 29 upon shaft 30 through rock arms 27 and upon the shaft 28.

Step screws 32 in lugs 33 abut against the fixed lugs 34- and by means of wl ich the limit of movement of the slide 25 in one direction may be varied. A spring 35 exerts its tension so as to maintain the cam roll 36 on the rock arm :2? in contact with the cam The slide 336 is ac uated from a cam 37 on the shaft 30 through a rock arm 38 fixed on rock shaft 3 supported in journal blocltssl-l, and carrying a rock arm 40, which is connecn-d with the slide through the link. t] a spring 42 exerting its tension so as to maintain the roll 4?) in contact with the cam 37.

Fixed on the slide 26 are a plurality of blocks -15, in each of which is a slide 46, ha ving a pin 4-7 that engages the wall of a slot 48 in the block 45 to limit the movement of the slide in one direction. Secured to the head of the slide 46 by a nut 4:9 is a gauging plate 50 having an opening 51 therethrough.

@n the slide 26 near each of the blocks is a bracket 52, in which is journaled a trip lever 58, the upper end of which is held against the slide 46 by the spring 56 and the lower end is movable into and out of the path of the trip balls 54, which travel in the groove of the worm 55. This worm and the trip balls associated therewith are substantially the same as disclosed in the said Patent No. 1,602,334.

Fixed to the worm housing 57 are a plurality of journal blocks 58, equal in number to the slides 46, in each of which is hinged a rock arm 59 having a cam face (50 thereon that projects over the worm to a point adjacent to a line drawn vertically with the center thereof.

In the drawings I have illustrated two forms of gauging levers, one of said forms being shown in section in Figure 2 and the other in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the form shown in Figure 2, 61 indicates a head m mber, into which is threaded a sleeve (32, which is held in any of its adjusted positions by the nut (33. Slidablc through this sleeve is a gauging rod ti l having a hardened button 65 at its outer end. Journaled in the blocks 66 held in the head member til is the gauging lever 67 carrying a hardened plug at its outer end. Secured to this ganging lever is a gauging plate 69, the outer end of which is maintained in contact with the rod 6-t by a spring 70 supported on the post 1. An adjusting screw 72 provides means for varying the position of the gauging plate, which is locked in its several positions by the screws 73 or the like. The forward end or" the gauging rod 6 is guided and aligned with the article in its gauging position by the fixed plate 7 The gauging lever 67 is so formed that the space between the center of the fulcrum thereof that is the axis of the journals in blocks (36 and the outer end of the plug 68 is ten times the distance between said center and the axis of the gauging rod 64, so that any movement of the gauging lever by reason of the variation in position of the rod 6-l parallel to its axis is increased ten times at the plug 58. Any variation, therefore, in the position of the end of the button 65 by reason of its contact with the article is magnified ten times in the movement of the plug 68. ll the article is too short, then the plug 68 is moved upwardly. it too long, then in the opposite direction. these two extremes being substantially shown by the broken lines in Figure 2. The proportion of ten to one as j ust described is arbitrary and may be varied as desired.

The opening 51 in the gauging plate is of such size that it will permit the plug 68 to enter therein within the extremes of the tole 'anccs of variation in the length of the article. To illustrate; if the allowable tolerance in the length of the article is plus or minus .002 there will be an overall tolerance of .004. As the position of the plug (58 is out of alignment ten times that of the length of the article, the opening 51 would be .04 larger than the diameter of the plug ('38, so that within the extremes of tolerance the plug 68 would still enter said opening 51 but if the length of the article is outside of such limits then the plug 68 would be moved to such position that it would be outside of the opening 51 and would engage the face of the plate 50.

In operation the articles, shown herein as cartridges, are moved to the respective gauging stations and there held by the holder 20, the slide 20 then moves forward carrying with it the gauging rod 64:, which contacts with the cartridge. It the latter correct in length no movement is imparted to the gauging lcver 67. If, however, it is either above or below such length, but within the allowable tolerances, the plug 68 will be moved to a position wherein it will still be in alignment with the opening 51, in the gauging plate 50.

lVhcn the gauging rod 64 is in contact with the cartridge, all of the moving parts of the machine come to a. rest position, thus eliminating all possibility of vibration of any of the parts. hen the parts have thus come to a rest the slide 26 moves forward and if the cartridge is either the correct length or within its tolerance limitations, the plug (38 ill enter the hole 51 in the gauging plate 50 without imparting movement thereto. If, however, the cartridge is not of the proper length and outside its allowable tolerances, the gauging plate 50 will engage the end of the plug 68 and the slide 46 will move within the block 4-5 during the further movement of the slide 26. This action will cause the trip leilm ver 53 to rock upon its pivot mounting,'engage the trip ball 54, and move the same in the groove of the worm 55 so that it is on the opposite side of the center thereof. In this new position, outlined by broken lines in Figure 2, the ball 1 will actuate the rock arm 59 during the rotation of the worm and through which the discharge mechanism is actuated as hereinafter described. In brief, if the cartridge is correct in length, or within the limits of the allowable tolerances, the plug 68 enters the opening 51 in the gauging plate and the discharge mechanism is not actuated. If, however, its length is not within such limits the plug does not enter said opening and the discharge mechanism is actuated as a result thereof. I i

Substitution of a new gauging rod 64 or variation of the position of the sieeve 62, or both, permits the use ofthis mechanism for cartridges that vary considerably in their overall length without substitution of other parts.

Adjacent to each of the inspecting stations is a chute 75 through'the table 1 1, the lower edge of which is opposite a discharge chute 76 that is supported in part by a bracket 80. One wall of the chute 75 is closed by the hinged gate 77 between which and the rock arm 59 is a push rod 7 8. When the gate 7'? is in the position shown in Figure 2, the cartridge rides thereover during itstravel from one station to another, butif the preceding cartridge has not measured up to the gauging test, the bal 5 1- actuates the rock arm 59 in the manner heretofore described and this in turn moves the gate 7'? upon its mounting through the rod 7 8 against the tension of the spring 79, so that it occupies the position shown in Figure 5. The support for the cartridge now being removed it drops through the chute 75 into the discharge chute 76. Thus, all cartridges rejected for a single defect are discharged at one station and are grouped together in a convenient receptacle.

In Figure 3 is illustrated the form of ganging mechanism for the diameter and width of the groove, the diameter of the head, etc. In this form the lever 81 is also provided with a plug 68 that in one of its positions registers with the opening 51 in the gauging plate 50, in the manner above descrbed. The lever is hinged at 82 to a bracket- 83 connected with the table lei and carries at its inner end a gauging plate 84. Upon the lower end of this lever is a! cam lug 85 which contacts with a roll 86 upon a plate 87 adjnstahly connected with the brach t 25.

Fixed in the bracketSS adjustably connected with the bracket 83 is a blade 89 and a backing plate 90. With his form of lever, as the cartridge is moved into the gauging position the rear face thereof abuts against the backing plate 90 and the lower edge of the blade 89 enters the groove at the head of the cartridge. The slide now moves toward the table 1 1 and the position of the lever 81 about its pivotis determined by the relative position of the blade 89, and the'contact of the lug 85 with the roll 86. Thus,thc plug 68 is in or out of register with the opening 51 in the gauging plate as the cartridge may pass or fail in the gauging test. The spring 91 exerts its tension so as to maintain the lug 85 and roll 86 in contactwith each other. should be positioned high enough to allow a cartridge with no groove in its shell to pass thereunder. The arrangement of these blades may be such as to determine the width and depth of the groove, the thickness of the head of the cartridge, the diameter thereof, etc. The operation of the slice 26 and the discharge mechanism is the same with this form of gauging lever as the one first above described.

In effect the levers 67 and 81 and associated parts constitute an inspector or gauging ele ment and in operation this inspector is in turn inspected by the slide 46 and its associated parts. i V

By the use of a gauging member as herein shown and described, the cartridgeinay be gauged in various ways with extreme accuracy, great speed, and by mechanism that is comparatively simple in its operation, and

the cartridges that do not meet the gauging tests are discharged and grouped according to their several defects.

Tools, blades, and other devices may be substituted for the button and blades 84: and 89 to provide for other gaugings than can be made therewith, and are within my in vention. V

There are other minor changes and alterations that may be made within my invention,

aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. Means for gauging an article, comprising an inspector inechanisn'i, the position of which is determined by the article; and a second inspector mechanism having a substantially right line movement toward and away from the first inspector mechanism. the extent of such movement being d etermined by the position of the first mentioned inspector mechanism if the latter is not in a predeter- "mined position or allowable variations therefrom.

2. Means for gauging an article, comprismg an mspector mechanism, the position of which is determined by the article; means for moving such mechanism as a unit; a second It is desirable that the blade 89' inspector mechanism; means for independently moving the second inspector mechanism as a unit after the first mentioned inspector mechanism has come to a rest position, the movement of a portion of the second inspector mechanism being interrupted by the first mentioned inspector mechanism if the latter is not in a predetermined position or allow able variations therefrom.

3. Mechanism for gauging an article having av lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; and a member movable in asubstantially straight line toward and away from the lever, the extent of such movement being limited by the lever, it that part thereof adjacent to the article is not in predetermined position.

l. lvlechanil m for gauging at article having a. lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined the article; a member movable in a substantially straight line toward and a ay n the lever. the extent of such movement b ing limited by the lever, if that part thereof adjacent to the article is not in a predetermiucd position; and means set in motion by said nn-znber tor segregating the article when the extent oi movement of said member is limited by the lever.

5. lWlechanism for gauging an article hava lever. one part of which and its position determined by the article: a member movable relatively to the lever which registers with and in part 172 es vc the lever ii that part of the lever ad acent to the article is in its predetermined position.

(3. lillechanism for gauging an article having a lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; a member having" an opening therein that is movable relatively to the lever, said opening), receiving a portion of the lever if that j art oi? the lever djacent to the article is in a predetermined position.

7. lllechanism for gauging; an article having a lever. one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; an elementmovable relatively to the lover; a member movable within the element and actuated therein by the lever that part thereof adjacent to the. article is not in a predetermined position.

8. ltlcehauism tor gauging an article. com- }n'ising in part two elements movable relatively to each other; a lever connected with one or" the elements and in one of its positions one part of the lever being aojacent to and in a position determined by the article; a member movably mounted in the other element and actuated by the lever if that part of the lever adjacent to the article is not in a predetermined position; an d means for actuating said elements whereby the one having a lever connected therewith comes to a full stop before the other element begins its movement.

ad acent to.

. 9. Mechanism for gauging an article having a lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; a support for the article; a member movable relatively to the lever and actuated thereby if that part of the lever adjacent to the article is not in a predetermined position; and means set in motion by said member for moving a portion of the support of the article when atuated by the lever, whereby the article will move out of its former path and be segregated. from those articles that permit the lever to move into a predetermined position.

10. ll lechanism for gauging an art cle having a. lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; a support for the article; a member movable relatively to the lever and actuated thereby it that part of the lever adjacent to the article not in a predetermined position; means set in motion by said member for moving;' a portion. or the support of the article when actuated by the lever whereby the article will move out oi its former path and be segregated from those articles that permit the lever to move into a predetermined position, comprising in part a trip member; and internu-"Xate mechanism between a rock member and su port having a transitory element which. s moved from an inoperative to an operative position and thereby actuates the movable portion of the support it the lever is not moved into its predetermined position.

11. Mechanism for gauging; an article having a lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article; a l'l'ltllllJBl' having an opening therein that is movable relatively to the lever and registers with a portion of the lever it that part of the lever adjacent to the article is in its predetermined position, said opening being; o'l substantially the same diameter as the part of the lever that registers therewith plus the allowable tolerance of variation in the article beinggauged.

12. Mechanism for gauging an article comprising in part two slides; means tor independently actuating each of the slides; a lever connected with one of the slides and in one of its positions one part of the lever being adjacent to and in a position determined by the article. another slide associated with and movable relatively to the second of said slides and having); an opening therein to receive a part oi the lover within the allowable tolerances of variation in the article that actuated by the lover it said article is outside of said allowable tolerances, and means for actuating said slides whereby the one having a lever associated therewith comes to a rest position before movement is imparted to the said second slide.

13. hl'echanism for gauging an article, comprising in part two slides; means for independently actuating each of the slides; a

lever connected with one of the slides and in one of its positions one part of the lever being adjacent to and in a position determined by the article, another slide associated with and movable relatively to the second of said slides and having an opening therein to receive a part of the lever Within the allowable tolerances of variation in the article that is actuated by the lever if said article is outside of said allowable tolerances, means for actuating said slides whereby the one having a lever associated therewith comes to a rest position before movement is imparted to the said second slide, a transitory element, a'

trip member carried bythe second slide and actuated by the slide mounted therein when in one of its positions, and a movable support for the article that is actuated through the transitory member. I

14-. Mechanism for gauging an article, comprising in part two slides; means for independently actuating each of the slides, a lever connected with one of the slides and in one of its positions one part of the lever being adjacent to and in a position. determined by the article, another slide associated with and movable relatively to the sec 0nd of said slides and having an opening therein to receive a part of the lever within the allowabletolerances of variation in the article, means for segregating the article that does not meet the gauging tests, said means being set in motion by the slide associated with the second slide when engaged by the lever during movement of the second slide, if the lever is not in a predetermined position.

15. Mechanism for gauging an article having a lever, one part of which is-adjacent to and its position determined by the article; a member movable relatively to the lever and actuated thereby :if that part of the lever adjacent to the article is not in apredetermined position, and spring means that exerts its tension so as toinormally hold said lever in one of its positionsj 16. Means for ga'ugingan article, comprising an inspectormechanism, the position of which is determined by the article; means for moving such mechanism as a unit; a second inspector mechanism; means for moving the second inspector mechanism as a unit after the first mentioned inspector mechanism has come to a rest position, the move ment of a portion of the second inspector mechanism being interrupted by the first mentioned inspector mechanism if the latter is not in a predetermined position or allovvable variations therefrom; and means setin motion by said second inspector mechanism for segregating the article when said second inspector mechanism is actuated by the first mentioned inspector mechanism.

17. Mechanism for gauging an article having a lever, one part of which is adjacent to and its position determined by the article;

a member movable relatively to the lever which registers with and in part passes over the lever if that part of the lever adjacent to the article is in its predetermined position and completes its movement withoutbeing actuated by the lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ZENAS P. GANDEE. 

